GentleMouse Ergonomic Software Review

GentleMouse is so far available only to Windows users—excluding Vista. Mac users can expect to see something available later this year. Software of this nature is similar to the MouseTool, which came and went in the late 90s. (It’s since been rechristened Nib).

Since software like GentleMouse is unfamiliar to most users, there are practice levels you can begin with to slowly adjust to the software. You can also view a video tutorial to see it in use. There are two practice levels to choose from in the primary GentleMouse settings window. This drop-down menu also reveals default settings, sample settings, and custom settings if you create any.

The practice settings get you started on basic commands: left-, right-, and double-click. These are displayed in the main Trigger Window. The main Trigger Window is this pop-up window that includes the list of commands when you pause the cursor for the first time.

The difference between Practice Level 1 and Practice Level 2 is how fast a click command is executed when you stop the cursor. Practice Level 1 will allow slightly less than a second to pass before bringing up the Trigger Window, and the same amount of time before actually clicking a command when you roll over one of the choices. Once you get the hang of things, you can jump over to Practice Level 2 to speed up this click command.

The software marks your click location by attaching a red triangle to the tip of your cursor when the cursor stops. When you select a command, the cursor jumps back to the triangle instantly to register a click on that same location.

Once you have a good idea of how to use GentleMouse, you can get started with the Default setting, which provides you with more basic commands while maintaining a quicker click speed.

A common command with mice is to execute a click-hold (or press) command, such as when highlighting text or using a scroll bar arrow. With GentleMouse, selecting the press command will bring up another Trigger Window for more options—copy, paste, cut, and release. If you were using a scroll bar, you would, for instance, select release after holding on the arrow at the end of the scroll bar. If you selected text, you can copy it.

Alternate View WindowIf the cursor is positioned on the side of the screen, the Trigger Window won’t have enough space to display its list of commands. GentleMouse fixes this issue a couple of ways. One is by automatically drawing a border cushion around your active program to allow more space for the Trigger Window to display. The other is by having an alternate Trigger Window with the same list of commands display on the opposite side of the cursor that you can also roll over.

GentleMouse Options

After enough practice, you’ll grow out of using basic click commands. GentleMouse Options will provide more than enough horsepower to add a variety of click commands as well as present you with ways to completely retool how you use the software. There are three tabs to choose from, which open doors to adjusting the size and the appearance of the Trigger Menu, changing the “click” speed, adding or repositioning commands within the Trigger Window, and so forth. Going into detail for each option would be tedious, so we’ll discuss the more important ones.

The second tab allows users to add more click options to the Trigger Window or even reposition the window or change its appearance. By clicking the “select” button next to the Trigger Window option, you can select among eight regular Trigger Window commands and six Release Trigger Window commands. Doing so will display the settings of that particular position on the screen’s list of options from which you can apply settings to. You would then select a command for that window.

This is also how you can reposition an existing command from within the Trigger Window. Let’s say you want to reposition the double-click command. You can reposition it anywhere within the main Trigger Window—say, above the single-click command. Continued…

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